The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1887-08-31
s.pELo AND ELAGKHEAKD.
4 Graphic Description of a Eeritable
Huntsman's Paradise.
(From the naricn, Ga, Gazette.)

From the l"aricn, "a HlHciLe.)
The island Of Sape!o, lying just with
ont the mouth Of the Altamsha
.i;ver, On toe Georgia coast, is
certainly one Of tie most beautiful IL
the whole coast chain Of islands from The
bay OF the Chesapeake to the Florida
capes. It occupation and settlement by
the French NOBILITY date back to that OF
st. Augustine The ineal descendants
arc still N erect possession Of the island
and its ora! history. An old fort at its
outer extremity, the ruins Of which are
still conspicuous, bears witness to tie
character ard precautionary and fore
sight Of its first settlers. Twelve miles
in length BIZ three in width, it reaches
along the coast. 4 narrow arm Of the
sea divides il on The north from Georgia
main, while It's southern shore stretches
away for miles, o snowy expanse OF
wave-washed sand-urequaled this, By
any freouented beach along the south
ern coast, save that al Fernardina, in
extent Here most beautiful picture
presents itself On the one hand, the
broad Atlantic, sweeping far out to meet
the sky; on the other, huge live oak
trees, gray with age and hanging moss
many a giant among them stands, whose
arms, outstretched low, marks circum-
ference Of two hundred feet and more
between them, as if to guard against
their nearer approach, lies the listening
band of sand. Here the "league-long
roller laundering on the beach, and the
moving whisper of huge trees is never
ending. Here the deep sea turtle comes
to deposit her eggs, and here, then,
there is rare sport for the vigilant on the
dark OF the moon. The diamond-back
tarrapin is here, and to be had for the
catching-less than with Delmonico, ct
sixteen dollars dozen.
Beyond, close in, but separated by q
narrow channel, lies Blackboard. This
island deserves more than passing men-
ton. Once the rendezvous Of Black
beard, the pirate, "a contemporary CT
Robert Kidd), here he is supposed to
have buried his ill-gotten booty, AID
here, even here, the deluGed treasure
seekers have been with pick and spade;
their reward was as empty as the holes
they dug.
This island has been the property os
the government for some years past, and
in the time Of wooden naval ships WIS
considered especially VARIABLE for its
live oak, groves Of which extend
throughout its length on sandy ridges
running taroagh 1t, once surely sand
bars OF the ocean. Shallow lagoons
have formed between these ridges, AID
here at night fall, ducks, in season, and
ocean fowl OF every description, gather
to rest on the sheltered waters. Here
also is the home and retreat cf the Sc.
island deer: here among the "saw" pal
mettoes and along these ridges, close WITH
green br;ers ard hanging vines. almost
imperetra5ie, they rear their young.
Tie quarantine st2tion for ships enter
ing Doboy is on this island. But to re-
turn.
Sapelo Light, on the island shore, o.
posite Doboy, guards the entrance 70
this, the port OF Darien Ships OF &ll
nations pass in and out by this light,
bearing away with them the famous
Georgia yellow pine to all parts OF tic
world. Coastwise vessels are also here
in numbers, particularly three-masted
schooners, the last OF their race, and
happily, the most graceful commercial
crafts afoat; models of symmetry, fit
ting testimonials to the now idle. but
inimitable skill Of the American ship
builder.
The interior OF Sapeio presents one
immense plantation interspersed with
live oak groves and palmetto brakes, and
broken at regular intervals by broad
avenues and sideways, lined with tall
lowland pine or live oak trees. They
alone remain to break the sameless Of
the plain and lend a pleasing grandeur
to the scene; they tell Of the plantation
life once here. j crumbling wall OF
''tabby" grown about with roses, mark
the spot where once was the ''memorial
hall, while around and about all is the
pine forest. Once peopled and cultivated
BY eleven hundred slaves, its rich, DARK
soil yielded untold wealth il sea island
cotton, and al OF the coarser products
necessary to life and living in abund
ance. Almost deserted these years past,
it has turned back upon itself and re-
lapsed into solitude-an island park,
peopled no longer by men, but with wild
game. Both see island and mainland
deer abound.
SapeIo is the stepping-stone between
Blackboard and the main for the erec
deer. In the winter Of 1883 I
party Of SIX OF US, with eleven dogs,
after three days hunt, brought II
seven fine deer; and here let me add,
that during four nights out, We all slept
by the camp fire without covering OF
any sor:-this of itself speaks well for
the mudness Of the winter season. y
deserted plantation is the natural home
for quail; here tney gather in great
The "rice bird of the Caro-
Enas" is at hand il the riceields around
Darien, While the challenge Of the wild
turkey echoes unheede,t through the
river swalnps bordering the Altamahc-
next TO deer, the keenest shooting Sout..l.
Many varieties Of fish frequent the
waters about the island, while oyster
beds OF great value line every creek and
estuary leading ont Of the Altanaha.
Tie Chesapeake oysterman, IN the
veritabIe pr,ngy. should not longer delay
his coming to these shores, where be
may reap abundantiy and with easy toll.
What Utopia for many of those who,
fleeing our rigorous Northern climate,
seek restful homes or 4 winters sport IN
the Sunny South. Surely this beautiful
island so easy Of approach, presenting
such !; panorama Of ocean and landscape,
with its waters and woods abounding N
fish and wild game, with its genial cii-